Firstly, before presenting our proposal for modification of Bylaw 402, we would like to present the current status of Ice Hockey in Greece and the impact of Greece’s National Team removal by the IIHF from participating at the World Championships. We are confident that our proposal can help all lower division countries develop the sport in a more structured and monitored fashion.

With the dire financial situation that Greece is in, an Olympic size rink will not be a reality in the near term without the aid of some sort of financial angel benefactor. Despite the difficulties though, and because of an undying love of the game, some former athletes took the risk and invested in an ice rink.

They are not Olympic size, but ice hockey is absolutely still being developed in these facilities. It’s not easy, but the sport in still alive.

The IIHF decision to exclude the Men’s National Team from International competition has had devastating results for the sport of ice hockey in our country. In only three years after this decision, and the effects have been catastrophic.

Today, only a few teams are left; that play scrimmage hockey once a week, and organize friendly games against visiting teams from abroad. All other teams have folded or are on hiatus.

In the below chart, you can clearly see the Player registration and Team development between 1999 and 2016, and how the National Team participation has aided in the growth of both these figures. You can also see the severe negative impact that non-participation of our National team has, not only in the present time but also in the past.

In 2013, weeks before the IIHF decision to exclude Greece (together with Ireland and Mongolia) we had sent the IIHF office a long letter explaining what exactly the National Team means to our country. In that letter, we went to great lengths to articulate that in other countries, the National Team is on the top of the pyramid when it comes to the development of the sport, but in Greece the pyramid is upside down – The National Team is the foundation that keeps everything else in place. Similar to any structure, if the foundation is removed, then everything above it will collapse.

Players of the National Team and Iptameni, Iason Pachos, Themistocles Lambridis, Alex Rallis and Marcus Filipsson travelled from their home ice rink in Athens, in search of a frozen pond. in Greece. They didn’t expect to be hiking up the second highest peak in Greece, Mt Smolikas to find one. But they did! Yes, Pond Hockey in Greece!

A new video dedicated on the greatest qualifier in the history of the sport, with all the goals, the great moments, scenes from inside the locker room, the National Anthem and the celebrations. An opportunity for the young to learn and older to remember the glorious history of ice hockey in Greece. A big thank you again to the guys of the national team, and to those who helped make this dream a reality. We hope to see the great athletes of our country participate in the World Championships again wearing our national colors with pride.

Q & A with Dimitris Kalyvas captain of the Greek national team about the past, the present and the future of Greek Ice Hockey.

July 14, 2016 by National Teams of Ice Hockey

Greek Ice Hockey has been suspended since 2014, we chatted with team Captain of the Greek national team Dimitris Kalyvas who is on a mission to get Greece back on the world stage.

Can you tell our audience little bit about yourself?

[Dimitris Kalyvas] Well, I was born in Montreal, Canada and moved to Greece at a very young age. I started playing hockey in Montreal, as most kids did back in the 70s, and fell in love with the sport. Moving to Greece was a lot easier when I found out that ice hockey is being played there. I started playing hockey in Greece from the minute the plane landed in 1989 and haven’t stopped since. As for the National Team, I was a member of the first Junior National Team that was formed in 1989. In the Men’s Team, I become captain from 1998 and remained until the last National Team in 2013. I’ve participated in 8 IIHF World Championships and I am the all-time top scorer of the National Team.

How did ice hockey get started in Greece?

[Dimitris Kalyvas] Ice Hockey started in Greece in 1984 by players that returned to Greece from abroad. There was a small ice rink in Athens. No boards, no Zamboni. But, it was ice hockey! At the beginning, it was just games being played amongst friends, but very soon things started to organize. Team were formed, a Federation was created (1987), and the first Junior National Team participated in the IIHF World Championships in Yugoslavia in 1989.

The 3-on-3 tournament was successfully completed, held for the first time in Greece. It was a real celebration of the sport that brought together athletes of male, female and kids hockey! Athletes without clubs and colors created teams for the sole purpose to have a good time and enjoy the sport they love.

Winners, after almost four hockey hours, were The Greek Gods, with John Lachance, John Kokkono and Anthonis Kanellis, who beat The Scandinavian Flying Ice Mangos with Marcus Filipsson, Diogeni Soura, Alex Valsamas-Rallis and Alexandra Kovats. In the final were also the Frozen Potatoes with Jason Pachos, Themis Lambridis, Palvos Kasampoulis and Konstantino Koufopoulos.

Congratulations to all teams and all athletes!

See you again in September to see who will raise again the GOLD SHOVEL!

The 2008 IIHF World Championship Div.III video was missing from our collection. Enjoy!Nine years after their previous participation, the Greek National Team is back at the World Championships!. Watch the goals and best moments at the 2008 IIHF World Championship Div.III that was held Luxembourg in March/April 2008.